Automatically recording the speed and identity of vehicles



Nov. 25, i952 J. w. MCCUTCHEON AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING THE SPEED AND IDENTITY OF VEHICLES Filed 001;. 3. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN /1 Ma fZ/fCHfO/V BY V ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1952 J. w. MGCUTCHEON 2,619,402

AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING THE SPEED AND IDENTITY OF VEHICLES Filed Oct. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 2 126.4. +5 $26.5. 6 x15 {57 59 I 6 366 5 T- 50 I 33 I 5,8 #7 2/ J Z? I 1 /30 Z6 I79 M 24 F r23 12/ 1 [Z0 /Z0 o 3 Z3 0 I 0 1/7 19 7 mi? 2.5

INVENTOR JOHN /1 M0 CUTCHEON BY 4 ATTORNEYS 1952 J. w. MOCUTCHEON 2, ,402

AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING THE SPEED AND IDENTITY OF VEHICLES Filed Oct. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fire. (5.

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AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING THE SPEED AND IDENTITY OF VEHICLES Filed 001:. 3. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FZZGJZ 2:20.140.

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I 51% Z f I 52 L 64' M I g M L 63 [P47 44 62 INVENTOR JOHN W M0 CZ/7CHEO/V ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 AUTQMATICALLY RECORDING THE SPEED AND IDENTITY OF VEHICLES John W. McCutcheon, New York, N. Y.

Application October 3, 1945, Serial No. 629,058

(Cl. 346ll7) 15 Claims.

My invention relates to a method and appara tus for determining and indicating the speed of a moving object and for making a permanent record of the same for use as evidence in a court of law or for any other purpose.

This invention is of particular use in recording events in the operation of automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles upon a highway, although it is by no means limited to such use.

It is well known that reckless driving at unsafe speeds constitutes a major hazard of road driving. It is also well known that safe driving speeds vary greatly from place to place and depend on the condition of the road surface, trafiic congestion, road contour, visibility and. such like. It is one purpose of my invention to provide the police or other law enforcing officer with a portable apparatus, which may be set up at convenient locations along a highway and which may be readily adjusted to various speed settings, so that if vehicle passes the test points at a greater, or in certain cases a less, speed than that for which the device is set, it will automatically record a picture of the vehicle or object so moving, together with identifying license plates, and at the same time record the speed, the time, and the location of the instrument on the same section of a film.

Another object of my invention is to assist trafic onicers in more completely covering their territory and by assisting them with court evidence obtained by projecting the picture so taken on a viewing screen.

Another object of ny invention is to discourage reckless driving by advertising in advance the presence of such a speed trap or series of traps.

A further object of my invention is to record such speed with identifying picture at a low cost and with simplicity of control, so that the equipment could be widely used by relatively untrained personnel.

My invention consists essentially of a novel combination of camera and timing device integrated into a single working unit, through the use of a series of optical, electrical and mechanical devices herein described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The following description is made to instruct one skilled in the art of how to make and use one or more forms of the invention; but it is to be understood that the description and illustrations are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner whatsoever except as limited by the appended claims.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the apparatus in position of use upon a two lane highway.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the camera and timing unit per se.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view through the base of the camera and timing unit.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the upper portion of the unit with enclosed parts in elevation.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a, horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail sectional elevational view of the mechanism for automatically actuating the recording film after each exposure thereof.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 8-43 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is n enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line |04 lt of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line HH of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view or the optical means for sighting the image from the speed indicating dial.

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view of the optical means for transmitting an image of the speed indicating dial upon film strip.

Figure 14 is a composite diagrammatic view of all the optical image pick-up and transmitting means.

Figure lid is a. detail perspective view of the combination prism.

Figure 15 is a face elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the film containing a photographic exposure produced by the apparatus.

Figure 16 is an electrical diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits employed in the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, A designates a combined camera and timing unit of the roadside type. The unit A includes a rectangular shaped housing l9 which in actual practice may be approximately one foot by one and one-half by three feet and is adjustably supported upon a pedestal base II by a conventional universal joint I 2.

The housing It] is divided by two suitably spaced horizontal partitions I4 and into an upper compartment [6, an intermediate compartment H, and a lower compartment l8. The upper compartment houses the timing and recording mechanism and such relays, motors, switches and other parts essential to the mechanical operation of the unit. Access to the compartment I6 is by way of a removable panel l9 which closes the side thereof. The intermediate compartment ll houses the remaining electrical control equipment and access thereto is by way of a removable side panel 20. The lower compartment may also be reached through the removal of panel and houses supplemental power sources. inverters, transformers and other heavy parts. While removable panels have been shown for permitting access to the several compartments, it will be understood that locked panel doors may be provided for preventing unauthorized persons from tampering with the vital control and operating parts of the unit.

A photographic lens 2| is mounted in the front wall of the upper compartment l5. Light through the lens 2! is controlled by a shutter 22. A light shield 23' is attached to the front of the housing to shield the lens 2|. ter 22 function in camera fashion to take a picture upon a strip of sensitized photographic film 23. The film 23 is of the well known roll type such as is used in a moving picture camera and is capable of taking many pictures by means of a single loading. The film 23 is normally wound on a spool 24 rotatably mounted upon a spindle 25 and has its free end portion passing over a pair of sprockets 26 and 21, past the film gate The lens 2| and shut- 28, thence through a slit 29 in the front wall of 7 a removable light-proof film-receiving box 30. The novel features of the film-receiving box 30 are set forth in a separate application, Patent No. 2,409,948, issued October 22, 1946. A spring 31 frictionally bears upon the spindle 25 to prevent free paying out of the film 23 from its spool 24. The sprocket 2-6 is an idler while sprocket 21 is driven in counterclockwise or forward filmfeeding direction by a motor I26 through a gearing presently described. The driven sprocket 2'! is fixedly mounted on a spindle 32 which is prevented from back-slipping by ratchet means 33, the pawl of which is pivoted to a vertical hearing plate 34 which extends forwardly from the rear wall 35 of the housing it). Also fixed to the spindle 32 is a driven gear 36. The spindle 32 is automatically driven in a manner to be presently explained, and may be hand turned by means of a crank 37 which is connected to the spindle through a normally disengaged clutch 38. By pushing the crank handle 31 inwardly, the clutch will be engaged and the spindle 32 turned to manually unwind the film from the spool 24 into the box 30, when desired. To complete the camera mechanism, the upper corner of the housing I0 is provided with a standard view finder 39 for use adjustably positioning the unit A relative to the area of the road to be photographed during actuation of the camera mechanism.

Also mounted within the compartment l5 below the camera structure heretofore described, is

charging condenser through a suitable electronic circuit, or on an amount of current flowing through a milli-second meter, or on a purely mechanical device. For purposes of illustration a synchronous clock timer is used here. The synchronous motor 4! (Figure 9) is enclosed in the hollow base 42 of the device 40 and rising therefrom is a shaft 43 driven thereby. A cover 42' seats upon the base 42 and encloses the shaft 43 and other mechanism about to be described. A speedometer member or dial 44 is fixedly carried by the upper end of the shaft 43 and has a marginal scale 45 provided on a transparent peripheral area 45. The scale 45 is graduated to indicate the speed in miles per hour for the distance between the trip cables [50-436 and 15 l8l, Fig. 1. The scale figures are suitably inverted as illustrated in 45, Fig. 8, to render them readable when the picture in the developed film 23 is projected on a screen as shown in I92, Fig. 15. The method of transferring the image of scale 45 to film 23 is to be described presently.

The relation between scale markings and miles per hour speed of a vehicle is established mathematically from the distance between the trip cables [BS-i235 and I66l87 and the speed of rotation of dial 44. For example, when the trip cables are ten feet apart and the timing shaft 43 and dial 44 make one revolution in 0.360 second, then a vehicle at a speed of sixty miles per hour would require an interval of ten eighty-eighths seconds to traverse the measured distance. In terms of dial revolution this calculates to 114/360 or to 114 in terms of total angle through which the dial turns. At a vehicle speed of fifty miles per hour, it may similarly be calculated that the dial will turn through a total angle of approximately one hundred and thirty-six degrees.

Mounted on the cover 42' directly beneath the transparent area 46 of the dial 44 is a right angle prism 41, one right angle side being face up and the other in alinement with an opening 48 in the side wall of the base 42. The top wall of the cover 42 in alinement with the prism 4! is provided with an opening 49 through which an image of the miles per hour scale 45 is transmitted upwardly to the sensitized film. Mounted adjacent and exteriorly of the cover and in alinement with the opening 48 is a lens 53 through which light from a small light bulb 5| passes. The lens 50 renders light rays from the bulb 5i parallel from where they pass to the prism 43, upwardly through the transparent edge of the dial 44, through opening 49 and a lens 52 (also Figures 13, 14). The lens 52 is so positioned and has such focal length that the image of the scale 45 is focused on the film after passage through the right angle prism 53 to the film 23. By reference to Figure 15 it will be noted that only the margin at one side of the exposed film is covered by the scale image. All optical parts are suitably mounted and protected against stray light in accordance with conventional practice. Light ducts 44a and 44b convey the image of the dial 44 to the camera and to an observation point respectively, and light duct I33a conveys the image of clock I93, and identification number I94 hereinafter described, to the camera.

A reticle 54 is mounted in th opening 49 (Figure 9), the same having a reference 54 line to appear in the image (Figure 15) of the miles per hour recorded on the finished picture.

In order that the image projected by the prism 47 may be viewed by an operator, I provide a right angle prism 55 mounted on a slide rod 58 which may be manually pushed by button 56' and held to cause the prism 55 to assume a position above and in vertical alinement with prism -41 as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 14. Therefore the parallel beam of light passing upwardly through the scale 45 is diverted at right angle and passes through a fixed prism 51 and lens 58 onto a ground glas screen 59 mounted in the top of the housing H). The lens 58 is of a focal length and positioned to form the image of the scale on the ground glass screen 59. A spring 68 acts upon the rod 56 to return the prism 55 to normal position release of the push upon button 56', whereby the prism 55 is out of image intercepting relation with respect to the beam projector onto the film through prism 58.

At the same time that the miles per hour scale image is imprinted upon the film 23, a second image showing the time and apparatus identification number is also printedon the margin thereof opposite to that bearing the miles per hour indicia (Figure Light rays from the electric lamp bulb 5| are rendered parallel by their passage through a lens 6!, which light rays are reflected downwardly by a mirror 63 onto a combined clock and identification device '62 (Figures 5 and 15) having a dial 62'. A field lens 64 collects the rays for the lens 84 which is of such focal length and positioned as to focus the image of the dial 62' on the film margin after its passage through prisms 65 and 66. Prism 65 may be a combination of two suitably cut and corrected right angle prisms. The optical parts just described are also enclosed in light-proof tube structures but any other form of light-proofing may be resorted to if desired.

Figure 8 illustrates the compact time and indicating device 6-2 which includes a conventional electric synchronou motor with rotatable numeral bearing disks. Any other type of clock may be used, however, such as a conventional synchronous motor with circular dial and hands, or a combination mechanical with electric rewind or other well known type. The time indicia is illustrated by three successive numerals 61, and in the drawing the time indicated thereby is 2 :13 meaning thehour, two-thirteen.

The identification number 68 appears above the set of time numerals and is important where classification of the resulting pictures is necessary for indexible evidence. The identification number 88 is one of several provided on the fiat faces forming the periphery of a driven type dial 68. The dial 89 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the housing of the device 62. The driven shaft 18 (Figure 11) has a bevel gear 7! fixed thereto which is in constant mesh with a bevel gear 12 fixed to the inner end of a manually rotatable shaft T3. The shaft 13 extends through the wall of the housing Ill-and has a knob 74 fixed thereon. The shaft 13 carries a dial 15 having numbers similar to those on the fiat faces of the drum and being in like consecutive arrangement so that a person may set the dial 15 to a certain identification number, and that number 68 will appear in register with the sight opening 76 and in a column with the time numerals 81. In this instance the identification number is 7 and it identifies the particular apparatus from which the photographic picture is taken. The identification numbers may be changed at the will of the authorities by manipulation of the knob M, and as shown in Figure 11 the drum 69 may be spring tensioned at I? to maintain the dial in set position against accidental turning movement.

Referring back to the timing device 40 (Figure 9), the top of the base 42 thereof has a pedestal caring 18 mounted axially with respect to the shaft 43 and through which said shaft passes. The bearing 18 rotatably and slidably supports a ring gear 18 in a horizontal position, said gear having an upstanding hub 88. slidable vertically upon the hub 88 and keyed thereto for turning therewith is a disk 81 of dielectric material. Also mounted on the top of the base is a second pedestal bearing 82 in which a vertical shaft 83 is mounted, the upper end of which carries a driving gear 84 which is in constant mesh with the gear 19. The gear 85 is relatively thin in comparison to the thickness of the gear 78 to enable the latter gear to slide while in meshing engagement with the driving gear 84. Turning movement is imparted to the driving gear 84 by a gear 85 fixed to the shaft 83 and which is in constant mesh with a worm 86 fixed to the inner end of a manually turnable shaft 81. The shaft 81 extends beyond the side wall of the housing If] and carries a manipulating knob 88 and a dial 89. By turning the knob 88, motion may be imparted through shaft 81, worm 88, gear 85, shaft 83, and meshing gears 84 and '18 to the disk 8| to turn on its axis in either direction, whereby the disk may be manually set for reasons to be hereafter explained.

The disk 81 is raised and lowered by mechanical means operated by an electric reset latch-in solenoid type relay now to be described. Journalled in bearings 88 within the housing of the timing device ii! and extending horizontally beneath the gear 75 is a rocker shaft 8|, one end of which is provided with a right angular extending crank portion Q2 (Figure 4) which is disposed exteriorly of the housing and is under actuating influence of an electric reset latch-in solenoid type relay 88 supported upon the horizontal partition i l. The other or inner end of the rocker shaft 9! has a lifting cam 94 fixed thereto, the same underlying the vertically slidable gear l'S. The cam 94 is normally held in a lowered position by a spring 95 having one of its ends attached to the crank 92 and its other end secured to a fixed support 88, the latter having a fixed stop pin 81 against which the crank normally abuts to limit its upward movement. The cam 94 is moved to raised position by energizing of a solenoid 98 which has its sliding core 95 pivotally connected to the crank. A relay I88 has a magnet IQI which actuates a latch I82 to releasing position, the latter being engageable with the free end of the crank 92 which latch acts to hold the crank down when moved by the energizing of solenoid 88. Thus by energizing of the magnet 88, the crank 92 is pulled down, causing rocker shaft 8| to turn cam 94 into lifting engagement with the underside of the gear 18, and likewise lifting the disk 85 for reasons presently to be explained. The latch 82 holds the crank down until the relay magnet Ill! is energized whereupon the spring 95 returns the rocker shaft and cam 94 to lowered position.

The upper face of the disk 8i carries a pair of parallel arcuate contact members l03l83 concentric to the axis of the disk and suitably insulated apart and arranged in an electric circuit with the relay system illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 16. The contact members Hi -5523 are connected in the system by short lengths of flexible wires 34 having sufiicient slack therein to permit turning of the disk 8| 7. a on'e-half :revolution in each direction. These segmental contact members I33-I03 cover only a segment of the whole disk and are so positioned that the contact member I (Figures 8 and on the dial 443 will be directly over both contact members I33I03 when the dial is rotated. In other words, the contact member I35 is in the path of the contacts I33-I03 when the dial is turned.

The contact member I35 is clearly illustrated in Figure 10 and includes a hollow screw I03 having a contact shoe It? slidably mounted therein and resiliently held in a down position by a spring I 38 in the path of the contact members I03-IIi3-, when the disk is lifted to raised position. The contact members IIl3Ii33 and I05 coact to form a switch for closing electrical circuits hereafter described. The spring I08 acts to reduce shock upon the contact shoe I37 and forcibly acts upon the contact shoe to produce a firm contact between the same and the contact members I(I3I33 to electrically bridge the same.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that by rotating the disk or element Si by turning of the knob 38, the same may be set to close a circuit through contact members I03-I03 and IE5 at predetermined speed of travel of a motor vehicle. By rotating the disk BI to various positions, the dial contact I85 will or will not make contact with the arcuate contacts or terminals I03II3 carried by disk 8I, depending upon the relative position of the dial. The length of the contacts I33 (Figure 8) may be such to be adapted to maintain engagement with contact member I65 for a range of vehicle speed of say sixty miles per hour which ought to take care of all contingencies. Accordingly the disc 8| may be preset as in Figure 8 to produce contact with the moving member I05 at all speeds, for example, in excess of forty miles per hour. For this setting, if the speed is less than the forty miles per hour, the member I95 will not be moved far enough by its disc 8I to engage the contacts I03 when said disc BI is in its raised position as heretofore described. The timing device 43 may therefore be used to control an electric circuit to be subsequently described according to settings predetermined by manual actuation of the knob 88. Also, various lengths of arcuate contact members I03 may be employed to conform to other desirable relationships.

When the dial id is in neutral or zero position and the disk 3I is in its low position, the switch I35 is in radial alinement with a normally closed switch I89 (Figures 8 and 10). The switch I99 includes a support III! having a horizontal arm I II overlying the disk 8i and disposed above the level of the raised position of the disk. Slidably mounted on the arm I I I is a vertical pin I I2, the lower end of which is in the path of vertical movement of the disk 3i. Pivotally carried by the upper end of the pin H2 is an insulator switch arm II 3 carrying a contact H4 for engagement with a contact II5 on the fixed support II5. A light tension coil spring II2 between the arm and the support III holds the pin II2 depressed and keeps the contacts engaged with each other. To prevent lateral swinging of the arm H3 and keep the contacts in alinement, a rod H3 on support IIB may suitably engage the arm, as by having a longitudinal slot in which the arm is freely movable up and down. ,An abutment element IIG on the dial 44 is in position to engage the tail end of the switch arm II3 when the dial'is in zero or initial position, if at the same time the disc 31 is raised to upwardly push the pin II2 to lift the arm. Then the latter assumes the dot-dash line position and the switch H 3, IE5 is open. If the member H6 is in a different position, the spring II2' will keep the switch closed even if the disc BI is raised to partly lift the arm. But if the dial 43 is at zero position, the projection I I6 causes tilting of the upraised arm to open said switch. The switch I09 is so positioned as not to interfere with the free movement of either the dial 44 or disk 8I.

The conventional shutter mechanism of the camera unit is designated II'I (Figures 4 and 6) and includes a pivoted shutter actuating arm II8 which, when moved downwardly, effects an actuation of the shutter mechanism to take a picture upon the film strip 23. The sliding core N9 of a solenoid I2IJ is pivotally connected to the outer free end of the arm I I8 so that when the solenoid is energized, the same will move the core downwardly which imparts a downward pull on the arm H8, thus actuating the shutter mechanism. A normally open switch I2I is closed as the core I I9 moves downwardly, the same including spring contact I22 and an adjustable contact I23. The contact I22 is in the path of downward movement of the shutter arm I I8 and is engaged thereby during its downward movement to cause said contact to engage contact I23 and close the circuit in which switch I2I is arranged. Also embodied in the circuit with the switch I2I through I82 is the electric lamp 5I so that as the shutter is actuated the lamp 5I (Figure 14) flashes light through the scale 46 on dial 44 and onto dial 62'. Also the switch I2I actuates a latch-in relay I24 (Figure 16) which is in the circuit therewith and which relay serves to start motor I23 (Figures 5 and 16) for causing the film strip 23 to move ahead one picture area in a manner presently described.

The film feeding mechanism is best illustrated in Figures 5 and 7 and includes broadly a Geneva movement I25 for imparting a predetermined rotation to the film feeding shaft 32, the same being driven by an electric motor I25. The motor shaft has a worm I21 which is in constant meshing engagement with a worm gear I28 fixed to a shaft I23. Also fixed to the shaft I29 is a disk I30 having a concentric segment I3I engageable by a Geneva wheel I32 fixed to a shaft I33. The inner face of the disk I38 carries a pin I34 which successively engages radial slots I35 in the Geneva wheel I32. Upon each complete revolution of the shaft I29, a one-quarter revolution is imparted to the shaft I33 through the Geneva wheel I32 and pin I34. Power from the shaft I33 is transmitted to the sprocket shaft 32 by means of a small gear I35 fixed to shaft I 33 and which has constant mesh with large gear 33. The gearing is so proportioned that each one-quarter turn of the Geneva wheel I32 will move the film 23 forward one picture area.

The gear 36 has the gear I35 of a counting device I3I operatively connected thereto and which includes a crank and lever means I38 whereby each revolution of the gear I28 will impart a single actuation to the counting device. The dial of the counting device is visible through an opening I39 in the top wall of the housing I5. By referring to the dial of the counter device, the authorities may know how many pictures have been taken and fed to the film box 33.

Switch means I42 (Figures 7 and 16) is provided for closing the circuit in which the motor I26 is arranged. The disk I35 has a projecting cam I4I on one face thereof which engages a switch I42 to momentarily close the motor circuit. This causes the starting latch-in relay for the motor I26 to be electrically reset thereby stopping it. The inertia of the system is adjusted to carry cam I4I beyond the contacts I45 of switch I42 thereby allowing them to be normally open and ready for the next cycle. Other means of accomplishing this purpose is not excluded however.

After the initial relay I54 (Figure 16) in the system is tripped by a vehicle, it is essential that other vehicles subsequently passing in the same or opposite direction do not interfere with the correct recording of the vehicle which is in the process of being made. The protector means for accomplishing the aforesaid function include a motor driven device and a system of relays and contact switches best illustrated in Figures 4, and 16 of the drawings. The protector means includes an electric motor I43 enclosed in the compartment I7 and supported upon the partition I5. The motor I43 is started and stopped through an electric circuit embodying a latch-in relay. The motor shaft I44 has a small pinion gear I45 fixed thereto which has constant meshing engagement with a larger gear I46 fixed to one end of'a counter shaft [41 mounted in a bearing I48. The gear ratio and pitch diameters of the gears I45 and I46 are such that the time of revolution of gear I46 is between one and three seconds. The shaft I41 has four spaced apart cam wheels I49, I50, NH, and I52 respectively fixedly mounted thereon, which during rotation of the shaft I47 function to open and close electric switches I53, I54, I55, and I56 respectively. The switches I53 to I56 are mounted on a fixed support I57 and suitably insulated therefrom. Each of said switches includes a fixed contact element I58 and a flexible contact element I59, the latter having a pin I59 in bearing engagement with the periphery of its related cam wheel. The high surfaces of the cam wheels act to open the switches and the low surfaces enable the resilient spring contact elements I59 to engage their respective mating elements I58. The switches I53, I55 and I56 are normally open while switch I54 is normally closed. The cam wheels are so positioned on the shaft I4I' that during each revolution thereof, the switches are opened and closed in proper timed relation. When the motor I43 is on, the same drives the cam wheel shaft I4'I through gears I45 and I46, and the cams thereon operate to successively actuate the switches to their open and closed positions.

The switch I53 is arranged in the electric reset of the latch-in relay I54 controlling the motor I43 and as soon as contact is made, it shuts off the power to the motor.

The switch I 54 is a part of the initial impulse circuit and normally closed, however, upon rotation of its cam I50 upon starting of the motor, the same opens to render the cable circuit inoperable until the cycle of operation is completed. At the end of the cycle, switches I53 and I55 are open while switch I54 is closed. The switch I56 completes part of the circuit in which the contacts Ili3I 93 of the pick-up disk 8I are arranged.

When a vehicle or other moving body C (Figure 1) passes a certain fixed point, I69-I86, Fig. 1, contact I54 is closed momentarily. This causes a flow of current in both primary coils I6I and I62 of the latch-in relays I54 and I 55' respectively, thereby setting them and closing contacts I63 and I64 respectively. These relays are the common latch-in, electric reset relays with single contacts normally open, and with coil and contacts constructed for the type of current being used. Contact I53 closes the motor circuit M to motor I43, causing switch I54 to open and switch I56 to close. Switches I53 and IE5 remain open for the time being. The initial closing of the switch I60 by an automobile causes the closing of the latch of relay I64 to maintain closed the timer circuit T which may be considered as connected at I55- to the constant speed motor 4I that turns the dial 44; this condition continues until the switch I66 is closed causing unlatching of the relay I54 by the reset coil I51 and stopping of the motor 4i and its dial. Because of the latching, a second impact on switch I65, as by the rear wheels of a car will have no effect, except perhaps in the case of a vehicle of such length that the rear wheels actuate switch I56 after the front wheels have actuated switch I66 for a resetting of the relays, but such a condition is guarded against in the following manner. Switch I54 is opened immediately after the initial impact on switch I60 so that a second impact thereon cannot cause operation of the relays I54 or I55 until such time as motor I43 has completed its cycle of operation as controlled by cam I49 and switch I53. When the vehicle passes the second fixed point it causes contact I66 to be closed momentarily. This energizes reset coil I61 thereby breaking the latch and contact I54 which in turn breaks the timer circuit T and stops the movement of dial 44. At the same time, since switch I56 is now closed, solenoid 98 is energized which causes dial SI to rise and latch. This either completes or does not effect a bridging of contacts I 83I63 depending on the relative positions of dial 44 and disk 8|. If no contact is made through contacts I03I63 the following further circuits are made. Motor I43 continues to run until switch I55 is closed. This completes the circuit to the reset terminals ll? of the timer thereby returning dial 44 to zero. It also completes the circuit to reset coil I67 and unlatches the relay I55 (if latched) to its original position thus preventing the reset circuit from operating against a positive movement of the dial 44. This also assures a reset condition of the relay Q55 in case contact I55 was not made, for example, by a vehicle contacting I55 and stopping before the contact I66 was reached. Continued movement of motor I43 opens switches I55 and I56 and closes switches I53 and I54. Closing of switch I53 energizes the reset coil I 18 which breaks contact I63 and cuts the power on" the motor I43. At the same time reset solenoid BI is energized and disk 8| allowed to drop back to the normal position. The inertia of the motor system is regulated such that after the power is out from the motor I 43, it continues to move forward far enough to release switch I53, but not so far as to open switch I54. Prior to closing of switch I54 it will be noted no circuit could be made through the timer. For example, if a vehicle tripped switch I60 to start the timer, then tripped switch I66 to stop it, no further tripping of I60 by say a following vehicle would have any effect on the timer or relays until the reset device operated by motor I43 had completed its cycle. This time would be sutficient to allow completion of all necessary picture taking, movement of film, etc;

The above case where contacts I 93I63 were not bridged by contact member I65 would represent the passage by a vehicle at a speed below that for which the instrument was set and for which no picture was desired.

In the second case where contacts l03-I03 are bridged by member I05, and where the threeway switch I13 is in the position shown by the heavy line in Figure 16, and numbered ll i, then the circuit is ready to energize coil of the solenoid I20 of the shutter relay, just as soon as switch I78 is closed by the moving body. The energizing of solenoid I20 pulls down the solenoid plunger which operates the camera shutter Ill, and closes switch I2! momentarily. This completes the circuit to lamp 5I through a transformer I82, if current conditions require it, causing the bulb to flash. At the same time such contact also energizes coil I'IQ of an electric reset latch-in relay I24 having one contact normally open and having a time delay action to prevent film movement before the camera shutter II I can complete the operation. Contact I80 is made and held which completes the circuit to motor I23 causing the film 23 to move forward one picture area. On completion of the cycle, switch I IEI is closed, which energizes reset coil IBI and breaks the circuit. Momentum of the motor system carries the moving cam I iI suficiently past the contact arms I42 to allow them to break contact again so the system will be ready for the next cycle. In the meantime, motor I43 continues to rotate shaft Id? so that after the picture is taken the timer is reset, with both switches I63 and i6 5 opened and switch I55 closed ready cars with speed up to eighty miles per hour when separated by as little as one hundred yards.

When the dial id is at zero setting, switch I09 will be open as previously described, which will prevent the picture-taking relays from operating in case of electrical or mechanical failure of the timer 40.

When the three-way switch I73 is moved to cover contact position I75, then every time switch I18 is closed a picture will be taken. When the switch is moved to cover contact position I10 and the timer contacts let-H13 are bridged by contact Id? of the dial i4 and disk SI relationship, then, when switch I78 is closed, coil I83 is energized breaking switch I84 which is normally closed. This breaks the circuit before the slower moving solenoid I can act, thereby preventing a picture from being taken. When contacts [lit -I03 are not bridged by contact member i077, current does flow through switch I84 to energize coil of solenoid i2!) and take a picture.

With the switch H3 at contact I'M and the machine set for thirty miles per hour, then all speeds of thirty miles per hour and above, within the working limits of the machine, will be registered. If the switch I13 is moved to contact I76, then only speeds below thirty miles per hour will be registered. With the switch contact at I15, all speeds will be registered and a picture taken every time a vehicle causes switch I18 to close.

For various reasons, this may be con venient.

Although only one source of power is shown in the wiring circuit, it is not to be construed that combined sources may not be used. For example, I prefer a six volt direct current on the relay system, with timer starting and reset circuits operating cif 110 volts A. C. This is easily accomplished by one skilled in the art and requires further explanation. Other combinations may suggest themselves to suit various sources of supply and conditions. If a standard millisecond timer is used and/or an electric clock, a continuous source of power to it or them would be necessary. This is not shown in the drawings as it requires no special wiring considerations.

To summarize, with switch I73 set at contact I'Hi, switches I60, Itfi and H8 would be consecutively operated by a vehicle traveling in a corresponding direction at or above the minimum speed setting of the machine would cause the recording operation thereof. A vehicle traveling in a reverse direction would not cause such operation of the machine and would not interfere with the automatic resetting thereof.

Figure 1 shows the general plan for setting up the instrument along a roadside. The device A is located a convenient and safe distance of say six to twelve feet from the edge of the road section B. Three relay stations I3EI6ii, I8'II66 and I88ll8 spaced at a definite distance apart are laid directly across the road B. The first two stations may possibly be from ten to twenty feet apart, while the third may be about thirty-five feet past the second. The distance between the first two is critical and dependent on the calibration of the instrument being used. The relays may be of the usual cable, photo-electric or other similar type whose final result is to close the electric switches I50, I56 and I18. The active part of the relay on a two-way highway should extend not further than about threequarters of the way over the first lane. The balance of the cable or other visible equipment of like nature should be a dummy. As a vehicle passes from left to right along the highway or other path, switches I60 and I66 measure the speed by timing the interval, while switch I18 operates the camera in a manner illustrated and discussed above. Doubtless other uses and means of practical applications will be manifest from the above description.

A vehicle exceeding the speed limit for which the apparatus A is set will be photographed upon the film 23 together with the speed in miles per hour, the time of day and the identification number of the recording apparatus. In Figure 15, I have illustrated a developed film strip I containing the image of the rear of an automobile ISI which bears the license plate, the miles per hour speed I02, the time of day I93 and the identification number 59:3 of the apparatus which photographs the speeding automobile. Such evidence in a court of law will enable the arresting authorities to convict violators of speed laws.

It will be obvious in reading my description that many minor changes in size, form and construction of the parts of my speed trap may be made and substituted for those herein shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Speed recording apparatus comprising terminals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminal to be closed by said vehicle after said first-named terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operation of said firstnamed motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said second-named motor and connected to said second relay to be opened after the first-named motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional terminals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operating said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals, said apparatus also having means for adjusting said other terminals to be engaged by said contact.

2. Speed recording apparatus comprising terminals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminals to be closed by said vehicle after said first-named terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operation of said firstnamed motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said second-named motor, and connected to said second relay to be opened after the first-named motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional terminals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operatin said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals, said apparatus also having a film movably mounted adjacent said member, and means for transmitting light from said lamp to said film, a motor to move said film after said lamp is energized, and a switch for the last-named motor actuated by the second-named motor to disconnect the motor for moving said film.

3. Speed recording apparatus comprising terminals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminals to be closed by said vehicle after said first-named terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operat on of said firstnamed motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said second-named motor, and connected to said second relay to be opened after the first-named motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional terminals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operating said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals, said apparatus also having a movable support for said other terminals, and parts for actuating said support to carry said other terminals into position to be engaged by said contact, said circuit containing means including a solenoid, a third relay, and another switch controlled by said second-named motor to operate said parts.

4. Speed recording apparatus comprising terminals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminals to be closed by said vehicle after said firstnamei terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operation of said first-named motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said second-named motor, and connected to said second relay to be opened after the first-named motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional terminals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operating said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals, said circuit also having a controlling switch and means in circuit for preventing operation of the shutter of said camera.

5. Speed recording apparatus comprising te minals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a, movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminals to be closed by said vehicle after said firstnamed terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operation of said first-named motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said second-named motor, and connected to said second relay to be opened after the firstnamed motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional ternnnals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operating said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals, said apparatus having a movable support for said other terminals, and parts for actuating said support to carry said other terminals into position to be engaged by said contact, said circuit further containing means including a solenoid, a third relay, and another switch controlled by said second named motor to operate said parts, said circuit also containing a third switch operated by the second-named motor, and a coil in circuit therewith to reverse the action of the third relay and solenoid and release said parts.

6. Speed recording apparatus comprising terminals to be closed by a passing vehicle, a circuit connected to said terminals and having other terminals therein, a movable speedometer member having a contact to unite said other terminals, a motor to actuate said member, a relay in said circuit, a second motor to be connected into said circuit by said relay, a second relay in said circuit to connect said first-named motor and actuate said member to bridge said other terminals with said contact, additional terminals spaced from the first-named terminals to be closed by said vehicle after said first-named terminals, means in said circuit controlled by said additional terminals to interrupt the operation of said first-named motor and stop said member, a switch in said circuit operated by said secondnamed motor, and connected to said second relay to be opened after the first-named motor is interrupted, a third set of terminals to be closed by said vehicle beyond said first and said additional terminals, said apparatus also comprising a camera focussed upon said member and having a shutter, and a lamp element and means in said circuit for operating said shutter and energizing said lamp when the third set of terminals are engaged by said vehicle a predetermined time interval after the closing of the first-named terminals.

7. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a moving body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, a switch contact thereon, an element adjacent said member and bearing complementary terminals, means for supporting said element to be bodily movable adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member, and means including electric supply circuits containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting the said element to carry said terminals into position to be engaged by the switch contact when said body moves said parts at both points successively to closed circuit position in a predetermined interval of time.

8. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a movable body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, an element adjacent said member and bearing complementary terminals, means for suporting said element to be bodily movable adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member, and means comprising electric circuits containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting the said element to carry said terminals into position to be engaged by said switch contact when said body moves said parts at both points sucessively to closed circuit position in a predetermined interval of time, said apparatus also having gear connections for adjusting the position of said element.

9. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a moving body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, a switch contact thereon, an element adjacent said member and bearing complementary terminals, means for supporting said element to be bodily movable adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member and means including electric supply circuit containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting said element to carry said terminals into position to be engaged by switch contact, when said body moves said parts at both points successively to closed circuit position in a predetermined interval of time, said devices including solenoids to actuate said elements to shift same.

10. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a moving body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, a switch contact thereon, an element adjacent said member and bearing complementary terminals, means for supporting said element to be bodily movable adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member, means including electric supply circuits containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting the said element to carry said terminal into position to be engaged by said switch contact, when said body moves said parts at both points successively to closed-circuit position in a predetermined interval of time, said apparatus also having a lamp to illuminate a portion of said member, a photographic camera bearing a shutter, a light sensitive film associated with said camera, means in said circuits to energize said lamp and operate said shutter when said terminals are engaged by the switch contact, and switches for said lastnamed means in said circuits together with optical transmitting means to direct and focus the light from said lamp upon both said film and said speedometer member.

11. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a moving body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, a switch contact thereon, an element adjacent said member and bearing complementary terminals, means for supporting said element to be bodily movable, adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member, means including electric supply circuits containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting the said element to carry said terminals into position to be engaged by said switch when said body moves said parts at both points successively into closedcircuit position in a predetermined interval of time, said apparatus also having a lamp to illuminate a portion of said member, a photographic camera bearing a shutter, a light sensitive film associated with said camera, means in said circuits to energize said lamp and operate said shutter when said terminals are engaged by the switch, contact switches for said last-named means in said circuits together with optical transmitting means to direct and focus the light from said lamp upon both said film and said speedometer member, a second motor and additional device in said circuits for intermittently actuating said film after exposure by said shutter, and a time indicating device also in proximity to said lamp.

12. Recording apparatus comprising in combination contact parts at a point in the path of a moving body, additional contact parts in said path at another point, a movable speedometer member, a switch contact thereon, an element adjacent said member, and bearing complementary terminals, means for supporting said element to be bodily movable adjacent said member, a motor connected to said member, means including electric supply circuits containing said parts in said path and controlling devices therein for energizingthe motor and shifting the said element to carry said terminals into position to be engaged by said switch contact when said body moves said parts at both points successively into closed circuit position, in a predetermined interval of time, said apparatus also having a lamp to illuminate a portion of said member, a photographic camera bearing a shutter, a light sensitive film associated with said camera, means in said circuits to energize said lamp and operate said shutter when said terminals are engaged by the switch contact, switches for said last-named means in said circuits together with optical transmitting means to direct and focus the light from said lamp upon both said film and said speedometer member, and tubular casings containing said devices and said lamp adjacent said shutter and said member.

13. Recording apparatus comprising a movable speedometer member bearing indications, a switch contact mounted on said member and movable therewith, an element adjacent said member and bearing at least one terminal to cooperate with said contact, actuating connections for shifting said element bodily towards said member to bring said terminal into line with said contact, a motor for operating said member, and means including electric circuits and controlling 18 devices therein for energizing the motor and shifting said element to carry said terminal into position to be engaged by the switch contact.

14. Recording apparatus comprising a speedometer member having indications thereon, a. shaft on which said member is mounted, to be rotated by the shaft, a switch contact on said member, an element adjacent said member, means for supporting said element adjacent said member to be shiftable in the direction of the shafts extent towards and from said member, at least one terminal on said element, a motor for operating said member, and means including electric circuits and controlling devices for energizing the motor to turn said shaft and shift the element to carry the terminal into position to be engaged by said contact, optical transmitting means to direct light upon said indications and a camera to receive said light.

15. The method of recording the speed of a moving vehicle, the vehicle itself, and the time of passage of said vehicle, which consists in exerting a force at one point and one instant in the travel of said vehicle to move into a selected position, an indication of the speed of the vehicle and except at a predetermined speed of the vehicle, substantially immediately to shift said indication away from said position, and at another point and a subsequent instant, exerting another force when the speed of the vehicle has a predetermined value, to hold said indication momentarily, then generating a beam of light, directing said beam upon said indication in said position, making and recording an image of said indication in the path of said beam, and simultaneously photographing the vehicle and time of passage adjacent the image of said indication.

JOHN W. McCUTCHEON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,368,798 Henry Feb. 15, 1921 1,779,853 Paulus et a1 Oct. 28, 1930 2,091,357 Goldsmith Aug. 31, 1937 2,250,442 Abell July 29, 1941 2,336,076 Durham et a1 Dec. 7, 1943 2,336,081 Finnegan et a1. Dec. 7, 1943 2,347,194 Holliday Apr. 25, 1944 

